What homeowner doesn’t enjoy a beautiful garden? Different native and exotic plants and colourful plants are often what make up our dream gardens. But there’s no denying it takes a lot of work to keep gardens looking bright and beautiful.
Part of garden maintenance is keeping pests from destroying your plants. This can include snails, ants and even bees and wasps. Many homeowners enlist services for pest control Wodonga and other cities rely on to keep gardens pest-free. But always think twice before you do something to nature. Should bees really be on the list of pests to eradicate from your garden?
Bees: Good for So Much More Than Honey
You might be surprised to learn that about 90% of the food we eat daily needs to be pollinated. Foods such as sunflowers, almonds, onions, apples, pumpkins, avocado and so many more are on our plates courtesy of these little buzzing critters.
In recent years there has been an extensive emphasis on saving bees rather than killing them when you find a hive in your garden. If you’re not entirely sure what all the buzz is about, we encourage you to read this article to see just how important bees are!
Crucial to Our Food Systems
The most critical reason to not kill bees is quite simple. They ensure we can continue eating! It’s estimated that bees pollinate an average of 35% of global agricultural land globally. Additionally, about 87 of the leading food crops are pollinated by bees and other pollinators.
If you think of the number of foods that currently exist in the world, 87 might seem like a small number. It’s important to realise that these 87 foods are used in the production of countless other food types. Additionally, bees pollinate the majority of the world’s wild plants. These plants in turn create and support the healthy eco-systems needed to sustain our crops.
Some of the agricultural produce that needs to be pollinated include the following:
- Apples, blueberries, melons and other fruits are eaten raw or as ingredients in other dishes
- Squash, cucumbers, tomatoes and a variety of other vegetables also used raw or in other dishes
- Almonds, anise, cardamom, cashew, nutmeg and other herbs and spices used in food production
- Dairy cows eat Alfalfa, which is also pollinated by honeybees, so without pollinated crops, there’d be less food for the cattle we rely on for meat and other dairy products
How Does Bee Pollination Work?
We all know bees pollinate crops and flowers and that’s important. But do you know how the pollination process works? Essentially, pollination allows plants and crops to reproduce. Plants need this reproduction process to grow and bear fruit and seeds.
When bees sit on plants, they collect pollen and nectar using the hairs on their feet. Pollen is the male reproductive organ of the flower. When the bee moves to another plant, the pollen sac falls off and onto the plant. Pollination occurs and the plant grows fruit and seeds which are crucial to harvesting.
While it’s true that some plants can pollinate when the wind blows pollen and seeds around, many need bees and birds for this process.
Bees Help us Fight the Battle Against Climate Change
Generally, global warming is one of the top reasons for the sharp decline in bee colonies across the globe. The reason for this is the rise in temperature which negatively affects bees. If an area once inhabited by bees suddenly becomes warmer, bees will move to a cooler climate. This in turn leaves the crop unpollinated and also affects the area’s eco-system.
Once a region’s eco-system becomes threatened, specialised functions such as pollination often don’t take place. Plants will continue to grow but won’t produce the fruits or vegetables people need to eat. There also won’t be seeds to grow for the following year’s harvest. It’s crucial to keep bee colonies alive in the areas they are.
What Should You Do If Bees Are Bugging You?
Depending on where the hive is located, bees in the garden can become inconvenient. The situation becomes more stressful when someone in the household has a bee allergy or small children play near the hive. What should you do about it?
While experts recommend leaving the hive in the area it is, this might not always be possible. Speak to your local pest control company about relocating the bees to a safer area. This will solve the problem in your garden without resorting to killing the bees.
Alternatively, your pest control contractor could recommend an expert to relocate the bees to a different area in your garden to keep them in your property’s eco-system. This often happens when the property is big, or you have a garden section away from the main traffic areas of your home.
Final Thoughts
Bee species should be preserved wherever possible. Moving bees from your garden should only be a last resort if they are a potential risk to the people and pets living there. Check with your pest control contractor about the best option to relocate bees without harming them. Do your bit for the environment by stepping up and saving a few crucial bee lives!
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